CHAPTER 3 : Before Disaster - Amelia Watson

Most people wake up in the morning by alarm, and some wake up naturally without alarm or anything to wake them up.

But mine..

"B-Bubba! Stop it!", I shouted as soon as I felt Bubba's slimy tongue licking my face.

Yes, I have a Bubba Alarm. Dogs often lick your face when you don't wake up at the usual time, some say they do it taste or just to wake them up, which is true.

But there's another case, they're also checking to see if you're still alive or not.

Dogs aren't stupid, that's why they're called Guards/Man's best friend for a reason. Whenever they feel like their owner doesn't wake up at a usual time, they will get worried.

"Bubba, it's okay now... Bubba!", I shouted again because Bubba still kept on licking me.

"Okay! Okay! I'll get up!"

I finally got up after lots of licking on the face from Bubba, and my face is really slimy now.. Eugh..

"If you weren't cute, I would've just..", I was about to add something but seeing Bubba's face got me calm again.

"Fine... You win this time."

His cuteness is immeasurable, and my day is brightened.

Anyways, after I got up, I went to the bathroom to wash my face with soap since Bubba licked me a lot today...

After doing that, I checked the time..

"It's still 6:14 huh.."

I usually wake up at 6:00, but I guess that's the reason why Bubba licked me a lot because I was 14 minutes late.

"Well, gotta make some breakfast then."

I got onto the kitchen after washing my face and made breakfast, since it's still early, I made myself some bread and eggs, I also made milk for my health.

After cooking my breakfast and putting it on the table, I saw Bubba just staring at me..

"Ah... I see."

Apparently that look signals that a Dog is hungry, so I went to get his food. After giving him the food, I, then went ahead to eat mine.

I also turned on my phone to check the news. And the first one to pop up was the main issue of this city.

JACK THE RIPPER KILLS ANOTHER WOMAN, AGAIN!!

I get the feeling that this news is important and really gruesome, but the headline is just overexaggerated..

Apparently the Jack the Ripper. Yes, the guy from the 80s, is back and is hunting woman.

There have been multiple ways of him executing a kill according to the news. It's either torture, rape, drugs or psychological torture. Either way, him killing woman makes no sense to me, the guy from the 80s seemed to have a reason for killing woman, and this impostor just makes no sense. But I guess he could be a psychopath.

"I hope this case gets to my hands..", I said after eating my meal.

After I finished eating my breakfast, I brought them to the dishes and decided to wash it later this evening.

After that I went to take a shower, and while I was in the shower, I continued to think about the Jack the Ripper case.

Yes, I did hope that the case will get handled by mine. Even though this impostor targets woman like the one in the past, I think it'll still be interesting to see how it goes.

And also, it's been 5 months since I've joined the team of investigators, but they're still handling me the simple stuff. Which is just... Unfair.

After taking a shower, I put on my uniform and my coat, even though it's still Summer, I just want to wear my coat for fashion.

"I gotta go Bubba, take care while I'm gone okay?", I said my goodbyes to Bubba but he shot me back with a cute stare.

"Uh... Bubba..? Please..?"

He just kept on staring, cutely..

This dog.. I can't. But.. Aaghh!

"Fine.. I'll bring you something by the time I get back okay?", I said.

He barked in response, I guess Dogs can understand me more than people could.

I ended up giving a goodbye kiss and continued to leave my apartment.

And of course, I locked my door.

I sometimes bring Bubba with me to the office, but since the seniors still gave me some simple cases, he'd just be sitting in my office and not do anything. So I thought I'd bring him with me again when I receive a serious case.

"It's still 6:45. Guess I won't be late.", I muttered.

I haven't been late once at work, but I guess the reason behind that is that I haven't been stressed yet.

As I walked under the early sun, I passed by a coffee shop which was just newly built. But since I had a milk earlier, I decided to enter here tomorrow, and continued to walk to my workplace.

5 minutes of walking and I've finally arrived at my workplace, my workplace is not far from my apartment, which also makes it one of the reasons why I'm never late.

And by the time I arrived there.. People were staring at me..

'E-Eh....?', I thought to myself.

What's happening..? Why am I getting cold stares..?

Is there something in my face..?

I continued to walk in and ignored their gazes and stares. Heck, even my seniors are giving me stares...

What's going on??

I was about to panic because my head were full of questions, but by the time I arrived at my office. My questions were answered.

The Chief or Boss, is waiting at the front door of my office, he looks like he's waiting.. For me..?

I decided to approach him and ask how he's doing.

"H-Hey... Chief..?", I asked.

"Ah. Good Morning, Ms. Watson.", he greeted me.

"G-Good Morning Chief..", I replied in stutter.

"Hm? What's wrong? Why the stutter?"

As expected of the Chief, he noticed my stuttering. And could find out more when I ignore his question. So I decided to answer honestly.

"W-Well.. The other workers here and especially the seniors... are all seem to be staring at me..? Did I do something wrong Chief..?", I asked.

"Ah. About that, we actually have something to discuss."

"What is it about?"

"If you let me inside your office, then I can explain it to you."

"Oh yeah, shoot.. Sorry."

I panickly opened the door to my office and let my Chief enter first.

"Hmm.. It seems clean here..", he said.

"Yeah.. I did some cleaning before leaving.."

And that is a lie, I never do cleaning in my office. The only reason to why it's clean is because I've never been hectic in here.

"Ah, I see. You've never been hectic before unlike your seniors.", he said.

And he found out. This guy is just too good..

"You found out.."

"Haha! Of course I did, I'm not the Chief for nothing."

I let out a deep sigh and continued to ask the Chief on why the seniors and other workers were staring at me.

"Ah yes, now to get into topic.", he said.

I closed the door behind me to ensure that no one else can hear our conversation.

This seemed to be private so I had to do it.

"You've heard about the Reaper Case, right?", he asked.

"Yes, Chief. I have heard of it."

"What's your opinion about it?"

"On what way do you want my opinion to be explained sir?"

"Just your own opinion."

I see that he's getting straight to the point here.. And I've got a good feeling about this.

"My opinion about the case is that it's being underestimated."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because it's been 3 months since that monster has begun its killing spree on woman, and yet none of the policemen and detective has ever captured it."

"Why put it as being underestimated and not slow pacing of investigation?"

"Because.. I've seen none of our workers are determined to ever solve this case. And to be frank, I am disappointed. To think that a monster such as Jack is on a killing spree and yet none of our workers or detectives seem to be determined enough to face this kind of case.. It's just disappointing."

"I see what you mean.. Now if I may ask Ms. Watson."

"Yes sir?"

"If you were to handle this case, will you give it your all to solve this case?"

There it is, the words that I've been waiting for..

"Yes. I will do everything to solve and put this Jack behind bars."

"Behind bars only? Despite his mass number of murders?"

"I'll go to that conclusion by the time I meet him. Sir."

The Chief went on a silent after my last sentence. But after that silence, he let out a deep sigh and started talking again..

"I see, if that is your opinion. Then I have no words against it.", he said.

I expected him to say that I've been chosen to handle the case, but instead.. He started to leave.

"Eh? Where are you going sir?", I asked.

"I'm going back to my office, why?"

"W-Well... Nothing."

Damn it, so he was just looking for my opinion about the case all along..

"Okay.. Then, goodluck Watson.", he said as he closed the door.

Eh? Goodluck? On.. Wait.. Doesn't he mean...

"Oh yeah, you're in charge of the case.", he said as he entered back to the office and left after he said it.

My head went blank. Then my brain started to process everything. And then...

"YES!!!! I FINALLY GOT IT!!!", I shouted from the top of my lungs.

But then I realized that I shouldn't shout it out loud, or even, there are rules that shouting inside this workplace is prohibited.

But still.. YES!

Don't worry Chief, I will never disappoint you.

It's time for everyone to see the full potential, of Amelia Watson!

As I was celebrating silently, my phone started to vibrate.

And after taking it out from my pocket, I seemed to have received a message from the Chief.

And it says...

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you that you'll be needing an assistant for this one. Don't forget to meet him outside of the building!"

Eh? I'll.. Have an assistant..?

NOOOOOO!!!! MY SHOW OFF... IS GOING TO GET RUINED!!!!!!